Following the direction Xiao Hongchen pointed, Huo Yuhao's gaze fell upon the solitary and arrogant figure in the center of the arena.
It was a young man with a tall and slender build. His black hair was simply tied back with a headband. His face was exceptionally handsome, with sharp, well-defined features as if carved by a knife. It should have been a pleasing appearance, but there wasn't the slightest expression on that face.
His expression was cold. Standing there, he exuded a sharp, piercing edge from his entire body, like an unsheathed sharp sword, fully revealing its brilliance and making people afraid to approach.
In his hand, he held a pitch-black longsword. The sword had no scabbard, and its body was as dark as ink, glinting with a faint, cold light under the sun.
Meng Hongchen quickly spoke up, looking at Xiao Hongchen beside her.
"Brother, you're not thinking of having Huo Yuhao go up and fight him, are you?"
"That's the Sword Fanatic! Hardly anyone in the entire academy is willing to fight him. You're letting an outsider like Huo Yuhao go up; what if something happens?"
Hearing Meng Hongchen's words, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but become interested. His gaze fell on Xiao Hongchen, as if waiting for more information.
"This person we call the Sword Fanatic is named Ji Juechen. Even in our academy, he is a very special existence."
"He isn't a Soul Engineer, nor is he a pure Spirit Master. In our Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, he's considered an outlier."
"Ji Juechen's Spirit is a sword—a very ordinary kind of sword. His Innate Spirit Power wasn't high either, only Rank 3, barely enough to Cultivate."
Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned upon hearing this.
Innate Spirit Power of only Rank 3?
With such little Innate Spirit Power, he could still be held in high regard by someone as self-important as the Genius Xiao Hongchen?
"After his Spirit Awakening at the age of six, he fell in love with his sword."
"From then on, there was nothing else in his eyes but the sword. No friends, no small talk, no participation in any activities. Every day was practicing the sword, practicing the sword, and practicing the sword again."
"At the age of eight, his Spirit Power finally reached Rank 10. He went to a Spirit Beast gathering place alone with his sword, and when he returned, his body was covered in wounds, but he had also obtained a hundred-year spirit ring."
Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted slightly.
Eight years old, alone, with a sword, hunting a hundred-year Spirit Beast.
This was much stronger than he had been. Of course, Ji Juechen's Innate Spirit Power was also stronger than his. At eight years old, he was still struggling to Cultivate, and it wasn't until he was eleven that he barely reached Rank 10.
However... there was no comparison between himself and Ji Juechen. After all, the other party hunted a hundred-year spirit ring alone, whereas for him, killing a Wind Baboon was a mere coincidence.
"One more thing, Ji Juechen is different from everyone else in our academy. He doesn't take medicine. Because everyone in this academy majors as Soul Engineers, they sacrifice some of their future for the sake of Spirit Power."
"Now, he is already a Five-Ring Soul King, and he isn't far from becoming a Six-Ring Spirit Emperor."
"Of course, although I have also taken some medicine, it hasn't damaged my future. I am still a Genius, and I will definitely be able to surpass Ji Juechen later."
Meng Hongchen couldn't help but roll her eyes upon hearing this.
"Brother, can you stop bragging about yourself at a time like this?"
There was a hint of disdain in her voice. After all, compared to Ji Juechen, Xiao Hongchen's path could be said to have been quite smooth. Not only was his Innate Spirit Power high, but he also had no shortage of resources.
Meng Hongchen turned her head to look at Huo Yuhao and spoke slowly.
"Huo Yuhao, you should be clear about Ji Juechen's strength now, right? He isn't someone to be trifled with."
She paused and then added.
"Besides, he should be here today waiting for someone else."
"Someone else?"
Huo Yuhao asked.
"Yeah."
Meng Hongchen nodded.
"Although Ji Juechen doesn't have many friends, he has an old rival he often fights. That person is equal to him in strength, and their battles are always worth watching."
She glanced at Ji Juechen in the center of the arena and then looked around.
"They should be arriving soon. You can watch later too."
Xiao Hongchen shook his head from the side, a glint flashing in his heterochromatic eyes.
"I'm actually quite looking forward to letting Huo Yuhao go up and compete with this Sword Fanatic."
He looked at Huo Yuhao, his tone full of eagerness.
"How about it? Any interest?"
Huo Yuhao didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on Ji Juechen. This perseverance, this obsession, this infatuation with the sword...
A light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
Huo Yuhao recalled his own experiences. He could be considered quite lucky, having met Brother Tianmeng, the Dean, and everyone in the academy, which led him to where he was today.
Comparing the two, Huo Yuhao felt that if he didn't have those things, he would be completely unable to do what Ji Juechen did.
If... Ji Juechen also came to his academy, what would happen?
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but think, then spoke slowly.
"I want to fight him."
Meng Hongchen was stunned.
"You want to fight the Sword Fanatic? He's a Five-Ring Soul King, and..."
Meng Hongchen instinctively felt that Huo Yuhao couldn't compare. After all, Huo Yuhao looked even younger than her. Of course, he was already a 4th Class Soul Engineer, which was indeed Genius-level.
However... reaching Four-ring at this age, Meng Hongchen instinctively felt that Huo Yuhao would definitely not be able to fight Ji Juechen.
After all, the Spirit Power increase from taking medicine couldn't compare to the real thing...
Upon hearing Huo Yuhao's answer, Xiao Hongchen's eyes were filled with excitement.
"Good! I knew you had guts!"
He patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, the smile on his face even brighter than before.
"Go on, I look forward to your performance!"
Huo Yuhao nodded, turned around, and walked toward the arena.
The surrounding students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy noticed this unfamiliar youth walking forward.
"Who is that?"
"Don't know, never seen him."
"Seems to be someone brought by Xiao Hongchen."
"He's going on stage? To fight Ji Juechen?"
"Are you kidding? He's an outsider, and he dares to challenge the Sword Fanatic?"
"Interesting, there's a good show to watch."
Whispers spread through the crowd as more and more people gathered, their gazes falling on the youth walking toward the arena.
Huo Yuhao stepped onto the arena and stood opposite Ji Juechen.
Ji Juechen looked up, his eyes falling on Huo Yuhao.
He sized him up for a moment, then shook his head.
"It's not you."
"The person I'm waiting for isn't you."
His voice was very cold, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.
Huo Yuhao looked at him and spoke calmly.
"I know. I've heard about you. I want to fight you, is that okay?"
Ji Juechen was silent for a moment, then raised his eyes to look at Huo Yuhao again.
"If you are too weak, I'm not interested."
Huo Yuhao didn't speak.
Beneath his feet, four Spirit Rings slowly lit up.
Black, black, black, black.
Four pitch-black ten-thousand-year spirit rings rotated slowly around him, exuding a suffocating pressure.
"Now, is it okay?"
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.